UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre mulls delimitation based on 2011 Census to implement women’s quota

Q1. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to enable delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census to operationalise women's reservation, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by which one of the following Union ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Q2. Under the Delimitation Bill, 2026, the census on which the delimitation exercise is to be based is defined as which one of the following?

  • A. The first census taken after the year 2026
  • B. The 1971 census, which currently freezes the allocation of seats
  • C. The latest published census as on the date of the constitution of the Delimitation Commission
  • D. The decadal census due in 2027, once its provisional totals are released

Q3. With reference to how the 2026 delimitation proposals differ from the pre-existing constitutional position, consider the following statements: 1. Before the 2026 amendment, Article 82 tied the readjustment of Lok Sabha seats to the first census taken after the year 2026. 2. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850 members. 3. Unlike the existing freeze, the 2026 framework proposes to undertake delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census rather than awaiting the next decadal census. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the 2026 amendment, Article 82 tied the readjustment of Lok Sabha seats to the first census taken after the year 2026.
  2. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to raise the maximum strength of the Lok Sabha from 550 to 850 members.
  3. Unlike the existing freeze, the 2026 framework proposes to undertake delimitation on the basis of the 2011 Census rather than awaiting the next decadal census.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Under the Delimitation Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Commission constituted to carry out the exercise is to be chaired by which one of the following?

  • A. A serving or retired Judge of the Supreme Court
  • B. The Chief Election Commissioner of India
  • C. A retired Judge of a High Court nominated by the President
  • D. The Vice-President of India in his capacity as Rajya Sabha Chairman

Q5. According to the indicative seat redistribution under the 2011-Census-based delimitation proposed in 2026, consider the following state and change in Lok Sabha seats: 1. Uttar Pradesh: 80 → 89 2. Tamil Nadu: 39 → 32 3. Kerala: 20 → 25 4. Bihar: 40 → 46 Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Uttar Pradesh: 80 → 89
  2. Tamil Nadu: 39 → 32
  3. Kerala: 20 → 25
  4. Bihar: 40 → 46
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4